Elton Varfi - The Ghost Of Margaret Houg

“ A ghost?!” Ernest exclaimed being not able to believe his ears.

“ I see that our friend Roni didn’t tell you anything about that.” Houg said turning to Ernest who was still surprised for what he had heard.

“ No, to be honest he didn’t tell me anything at all.” Ernest replied, confirming Houg’s hypothesis.

“ I didn’t say anything ‘cause I didn't want to spread any rumors, considering the bad events of last year.” Roni said looking into Houg’s eyes.

“ Sure, but I see no reason why Ernest shouldn’t know about it, considering that he is your dearest friend and also the man who can help us.” Houg piled on in a disapproving tone.

“ To be honest, I don’t see how I could help you.” Ernest intervened, who didn’t really understand why he was involved in that situation.

Houg stayed silent for a while; then, turning to Ernest said: “You could help me because I’m a very rational person and I don’t believe in ghosts; so, either imagination played a trick on my son and therefore he believed he had seen his mother’s ghost, or there is something else; anyway, I think that in all of this there is a logical explanation and I would like you to find out what it is.”

“ Well, your son saw his mother’s ghost’ Ernest asked, surprised of that sentence said almost in a rush.

“ Yes, that’s right, I apologize for not saying it earlier, but I almost forgot it.” Houg replied.

“ But, you can’t forget that easily that is your wife’s ghost.” the investigator made notice with a provocative tone, and instinctively his eyes landed on the painting representing Houg’s wife.

There was a moment of silence and the banker lowered his eyes but Ernest, who looked very sure of himself, deep down he was feeling uncomfortable with being in front of that man so massive who even when he was talking about ghosts it seemed like he was talking about the most natural thing of the world.

“ You’re right, but this story embarrasses me and I can’t wait for you to accept my offer and resolve the mystery.” Houg said as to justify his embarrassment and his strange ways.

“ First of all I haven’t received any offer yet and in second place I don’t think I’ll resolve everything with a magic wand.” Ernest answered.

“ If you had to decide to accept my offer you can put yourself the amount on the check; I'm fine with it. I really hope you’ll accept because your friend and I have faith in you.” Houg concluded.

Ernest was about to answer when a girl came into the living room. From the looks of her uniform she had to be a maid. She was a really pretty girl with short blonde hair. As soon as she saw the two men who were talking to Houg, she took a step back, almost scared.

“ Tell me Rebecca, what’s up?” Houg asked.

“ Oh… I apologize. I thought you were alone. I won't intrude any longer,” the girl muttered and she quickly got out of the room.

“ She’s my children’s nanny and she was the one to find my son in the shocked condition I was telling you about.” Houg said and then continued “I’ll give you the other explanations only in case you accept my offer.”

“ In that case, I’ll let you know” Ernest answered and motioned towards Roni that the visit was done.

“ I hope to have your news as soon as possible” Houg said escorting them to the door.

Ernest nodded his head and got out heading towards the car. Roni instead stayed behind and he stopped to talk with Houg.

“ This is all a bit weird.” Ernest commented with Roni once they had left.

“ What?” Roni asked.

“ Everything. The ghost story; Houg who wants to engage me to solve the problem. Doesn’t it make any sense to you?”

“ No, personally I don’t see anything weird about it. I just hope you're not sore at me for not telling you anything.” Roni answered.

Listen, I don't understand something. Why would a person with Houg’s influence and power want to hire me for this case? If he wanted, he could have an army of investigators, not to mention the fact that he can count on the total availability of Scotland Yard. Why just one man? Why?” Ernest wondered again, muttering to himself.

Roni felt anyway as if he wanted to talk: “Yes, all that you're saying it's true, but if you paid attention you must've guessed he had a bad experience a year ago, when his wife died. The majority of the press talked about that for a long time and some newspapers even wrote that the fault of his wife's death was his, Houg’s.”

“ What do you mean by it was Houg’s fault?” Ernest asked intrigued.

“ Well…it’s not very clear. I only know that his wife spent her last months of life in a psychiatric hospital because she was suffering from a major depression. It seems that she had become violent and dangerous so it wasn’t possible to keep her at home. The official version on her death is that she died after a strong nervous breakdown that caused her a heart attack. In certain articles it even came out that it was suicide and that Houg had given her a hand.”

“ In other words: a murder.” Ernest interrupted him, then asking “But why on earth would he do that?”

“ Nobody knows it. Someone wrote that being him a famous businessman, a wife in a state like that represented an embarrassment.”

“ This fails to convince me. How can a man kill his own wife just because he feels embarrassed?” Ernest muttered shaking his head.

“ In fact that's all talk. After a while they didn’t speak about the case anymore and Houg declared that he would have sued all the journalists who did similar insinuations. After all, it was clear to everyone he loved his wife.”

“ Even this is really weird.” Ernest said and continued “Why did the newspapers write that a suicide was simulated?”

“ I don’t know this.” Roni replied.

“ But is it possible that a strong nervous breakdown can cause a heart attack?

“ I don’t know Ernest, that is why you have to talk with a doctor, I can’t tell you anything. But why are you so interested in this story?” Roni asked who couldn’t understand where his friend was going with that.

“ Our Mr. Houg is full of enigmas, don’t you think?” Ernest considered.

“ He’s just a rich man, and like all the other rich men he is very envied and much attacked. Naturally he has made some mistakes, but saying that he is a murderer it’s a bit exaggerated.” Roni replied.

“ But why did the newspapers write that a suicide was simulated, how does this make sense? If the cause of death was a heart attack why should've a suicide been simulated?” Ernest asked again, demonstrating he didn’t care about Roni’s words.

The latter was becoming nervous for his friend's obsession. To Roni the story of how Houg’s wife died was the past and now cleared. He wanted to change subject, but he knew that with Ernest this was very difficult. Once he set his mind on something he didn't hear the end of it.

“ But it’s very weird, don't you think? Really weird! Thinking about it, the official version doesn't make sense… I mean… on Mrs. Houg’s death certificate I suppose it’s written that she died after a heart attack, but someone wrote that a suicide was simulated. I keep asking myself why.” Ernest kept talking and it looked like he was waiting a reply from Roni.

“ Please, Ernest, stop repeating the same thing a hundred times! However, that is history, and it doesn’t matter and after all they were all talks and nothing more!” Roni exclaimed and to change subject asked “Anyway, did you see what a beautiful nanny has Mr. Houg?”

“ Yes, she’s a really pretty girl. When I saw her she looked like someone I know; maybe I’ve already seen her somewhere, but I don’t remember where.”